The 10 Best Google Play Apps of 2021

All apps included with Google Play Pass

By Robert Earl Wells III
Updated on August 2, 2021

A Google Play Pass subscription gives you unlimited access to some of the best apps in the Google Play Store. Many of these apps are already available for free, but Google Play Pass removes ads and unlocks extra features that you would otherwise have to pay for.

The following apps are available for Android phones and tablets. Check the system requirements for individual apps to make sure they are compatible with your device.

01
of 10

Best Weather App: AccuWeather

Get local weather reports from the AccuWeather app for Android.
What We Like

  • Receive real-time severe weather warnings.

  • MinuteCast feature provides minute-by-minute weather forecasts.

  • See 24/7 weather forecasts 15 days in advance.

What We Don't Like

  • It doesn't always automatically detect your location.

  • The Android interface isn't as user-friendly as the iOS version.

AccuWeather is the most trusted source for forecasts and storm tracking. No matter where you go in the world, you'll automatically receive local weather updates, and you can even customize the information you get based on your location. For example, if you're visiting a place where pollution is a concern, you can choose to get air quality updates. AccuWeather also recommends trending videos of weather reports around the globe.

02
of 10

Best Drawing App: Infinite Painter

Brush setting for Infinite Painter on Android
What We Like

  • Share your files with other users and upload them to Instagram.

  • Create you own brush presets.

  • Export drawings in multiple formats including JPEG, PNG, and PSD.

What We Don't Like

  • The brush tools sometimes lag.

  • The fill tool leaves a small outline around the fill area.

  • Occasional bugs after each update.

While Infinite Painter isn't as powerful as Photoshop, it features many of the same tools you'd find in Adobe's flagship graphics editing software including layers and blending modes. You can even import and export layers in the PSD format. In addition to over a hundred built-in brush presets, Infinite Painter offers millions of color palettes and patterns that you can download from ColourLovers.

To make sketching easier, use a stylus such as the Galaxy Note S Pen.

03
of 10

Best Photo Editing App: Photo Studio Pro

Make collages and more in Photo Studio Pro for Android.
What We Like

  • Choose from hundreds of filters, frames, and stickers.

  • Create collages and splice images together.

  • Text editor includes customizable fonts.

What We Don't Like

  • No healing brush for covering blemishes.

  • Becoming proficient with all the editing tools takes time and patience.

Photo Studio Pro is the perfect app for touching up photos before uploading them to social media. Aside from making basic lighting adjustments, you can add text and frames to personalize your pictures. There are also advanced features such as a clone stamp tool and color splash, which lets you perform color corrections on specific areas of a photo. If that's not enough, there are additional packages to download that further expand the app's functionality.

04
of 10

Best Remote Control App: Unified Remote

Control your PC with the Unified Remote app.
What We Like

  • Compatible with all operating systems.

  • Customize remotes and add shortcuts to your home screen.

  • Control apps with voice commands.

What We Don't Like

  • Some features are buggy when using multiple monitors.

  • Doesn't work with LAN connections.

  • No trackpad.

The Unified Remote app includes over a dozen remote control layouts that let you control your computer from afar without a mouse and keyboard. This especially comes in handy when watching movies while your PC is connected to your TV. It also pairs with other Bluetooth enabled devices including Android smartwatches, and it has specific remotes for apps like Netflix, Spotify, iTunes, and PowerPoint.

05
of 10

Best Android Automation Tool: Tasker

Automate Android tasks with Tasker.
What We Like

  • Hundreds of premade tasks available.

  • Active and helpful user community.

  • Built-in file manager and unzipping tool.

What We Don't Like

  • Steep learning curver for the average Android user.

  • Creating tasks can be a time consuming process.

  • Extra plugins are required to get the most out of the app.

Tasker was made for app developers and Android power users. It gives you total control over your phone's settings. You can create complex automated tasks with loops, variables, and conditions. For example, it's possible adjust the volume of your phone based on your location or disable apps at certain times of the day. You can also create custom notifications and automate processes such as updating your weather app.

06
of 10

Best Radio App: myTuner Radio

Listen to millions of stations with the myTuner Radio app for Android.
What We Like

  • Listen to music on the radio while using other apps.

  • Add podcasts and stations to your favorites list.

  • Impressive personalized recommendations.

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't integrate with built-in FM tuners, so you can't listen to the radio without an internet connection.

  • Not all stations provide song information.

myTuner Radio picks up AM and FM stations from more than 200 countries, so you can keep up with local news wherever you are in the world. There are also thousands of internet radio channels and over a million podcasts. You can search by region, genre, or even by songs to find stations that playing the kind of music you like. The radio alarm and sleep timer features allow you to wake up and go to bed to your favorite tunes.

07
of 10

Best Casual Game: Evoland

Evoland for Android.
What We Like

  • Inventive concept and witty script.

  • Supports over a half-dozen languages.

  • Easy enough for non-gamers.

What We Don't Like

  • Limited challenge and replayability.

  • Tedious touch controls.

  • Save points and sparse and spread out.

Evoland is a video game about the history of video games. Fans of classic RPGs will certainly love it, but anyone can get a quick kick out of this quirky title. The less you know going in, there more enjoyable the experience will be, so download Evoland before someone spoils it for you.

08
of 10

Best eReader App: Moon+ Reader Pro

Read ebooks with Moon+ Reader Pro.
What We Like

  • Supports over 40 languages.

  • Add shortcuts for individual books to your home screen.

  • Edit PDF and fill out forms electronically.

What We Don't Like

  • No option to purchase or download books from the web.

  • Customization options can be overwhelming.

  • Doesn't always sync your reading progress across devices.

A more flexible alternative to the Amazon Kindle app, Moon+ Reader Pro supports almost every document type imaginable. It offers everything Amazon's ereader app can do plus more. For example, on top of features like text-to-speech support, the app tracks your reading statistics so that you can track how fast you read and set reading goals.

09
of 10

Best Budgeting App: Money Manager

Balance your budget with Money Manager.
What We Like

  • Manage personal and business financials.

  • Double entry bookkeeping.

  • Backup and export reports as Microsoft Excel files.

What We Don't Like

  • No option for managing multiple currencies.

  • Takes a while to set up your financial information.

  • Doesn't sync directly with bank accounts.

Money Manager tracks your day-to-day spending habits and your financial assets. That way, you can generate in-depth spending reports for multiple accounts. Money Manager provides helpful charts and graphs to help you create short term and long term budgets. You can input income and expenses for multiple bank account to track money coming in and out in real time. There are also tools for managing loans, insurance, and credit.

10
of 10

Best Calendar App: Business Calendar Pro

Keep track of appointments with Business Calendar Pro.
What We Like

  • Adjust the font size to make your calendar easier to read.

  • Responsive and reliable customer support.

  • Never forget birthdays or other special occasions.

What We Don't Like

  • No option to add photos to events.

  • Syncing is sometimes a little slow.

  • No way to view events more than a year old.

Business Calendar Pro is made for professionals with a lot on their plate. It syncs with Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Google Tasks, Toodledo, and similar apps to help you keep up with all of your obligations. You can set multiple reminders for the same event, so you'll be notified a day before, an hour before, and 10 minutes before an appointment. Other features include a search function, contact lists, and an option to export calendars so that you can print them out.

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